Met Rich and his Son Mark at Red lake at 8:00 am for a little Brookie fishing. On the trip up, the thing that struck me as odd, there were cars parked every where along Highway 88. When I got to Red Lake, the same thing. there were cars parked every where and no one in sight. When Rich and Mark got there I asked Rich if he'd seen the cars and he said yeh, probably deer hunters. Aah, Deer Season is open. That might explain why the flowers on the front porch aren't getting eaten any longer.
Ok, so I won't go into all the gory details about what and where. Kastmasters and Little Cleos did the job. We caught six, kept 3. Packed up and went to Caples about 10:30. Settled at the dead tree and put our lines out. Again, I won't go into all the gory details. Kastmasters and Rainbow Power Bait did it. We stopped counting, but we caught a bunch. Some where in the area of 20 or so. Most were catch and release, but I did bring home 4 for my neighbor Bob (I plow for fish). Have to keep him supplied so I get my driveway plowed when it snows this winter. I left at 1:30 pm and Rich and Mark were still hard at it.
A really nice day. The lake was calm (unusual for Caples) and it was warm. Good friends and lots of fish. Still need to get in some more practice fly fishing before Oregon. Thinking about maybe doing a little steelhead fishing on the American River next week. Notice I said fishing, not catching. Probably will just be practice.
Till next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than any day at work".
Shoreman
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday at Bear River Reservoir
I know I should be practicing fly fishing, but after three days in the attic putting up new ceiling fans, I needed a break. No, the fans weren't in the attic, the electric boxes needed to be changed to accomodate a larger size base for the new fans. OK, a lot of you have been in the attic before and know that it's generally filled with fiberglass insulation. Dusty, itchy, and of course, not how you planned it. I have a formula for remodeling. Take the time you figure it's going to take, double it, and then multiply by 3. That works for both time and cost. My plan was to whip up the two fans on Monday. You can figure the rest.
So, today I decided to take a run to Bear River Reservoir and just sit and fish. Turned out nobody was there when I arrived. It was calm, quiet, and warm. I put out a rod with Rainbow Power Bait and fished the other with a silver Kastmaster. Caught 3 that I was able to release on the Kastmaster and one on a silver Panther Martin. Caught one of Rainbow Power Bait and decided all I wanted to do is just sit. So I put out the other rod with Gulp Orange Pulp and plugged in my MP3 with an audio book, sipped my coffee, and vegged. I ended up landing 5 more on both Gulp and Power Bait and brought 3 chubby ones home. The rest I released. Ten total for the morning. I only had to walk about 15 feet from my truck. A perfect morning.
Thirteen days until we leave for Oregon. Can't wait. I should be able to get in a couple more days of fly fishing practice before we leave. Want to be ready. OH, went to a local fly shop and picked up 10 Steelhead flys. They are supposed to provide lures when I get up there, but you can't be too prepared. Besides, the Steelhead run in the American River is just starting and I'll be hitting that when I get back, or maybe before, who knows.
Until next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than any day at work".
Shoreman
So, today I decided to take a run to Bear River Reservoir and just sit and fish. Turned out nobody was there when I arrived. It was calm, quiet, and warm. I put out a rod with Rainbow Power Bait and fished the other with a silver Kastmaster. Caught 3 that I was able to release on the Kastmaster and one on a silver Panther Martin. Caught one of Rainbow Power Bait and decided all I wanted to do is just sit. So I put out the other rod with Gulp Orange Pulp and plugged in my MP3 with an audio book, sipped my coffee, and vegged. I ended up landing 5 more on both Gulp and Power Bait and brought 3 chubby ones home. The rest I released. Ten total for the morning. I only had to walk about 15 feet from my truck. A perfect morning.
Thirteen days until we leave for Oregon. Can't wait. I should be able to get in a couple more days of fly fishing practice before we leave. Want to be ready. OH, went to a local fly shop and picked up 10 Steelhead flys. They are supposed to provide lures when I get up there, but you can't be too prepared. Besides, the Steelhead run in the American River is just starting and I'll be hitting that when I get back, or maybe before, who knows.
Until next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than any day at work".
Shoreman
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday and I'm Back
Finally done with the antibiotics. Waited one day before venturing out to the wilds of Northern California. Actually I had to drive into Jackson (20 miles one way) on Thursday to get gas. Tank was a little too low to take a run up the hill. I had to get a couple of things at the store too, so I just postponed the trip until yesterday.
One quick thing about the mystery at Tabeaud. I was mostly yanking your chain about the volcanic gas bubble. Granted the town is called Volcano, but it's generally known that there aren't any volcano's around here. The town is named for its setting in a bowl-shaped valley, which early miners thought was caused by a volcano. I know it's been fun speculating, but it's probably just a simple purging of the pipe used as an outlet for the water flowing into the West Fork of Jackson Creek. Probably, but you never know. Oh, stop it Mark.
Picked up my neighbor Roy and stopped by Cooks Station for coffee. Drove over Carson Pass and down into the Carson Valley. Took a right on Highway 89 South and stopped in at the Carson River Resort and yaked with Todd for a while. He suggested we drive up the road 4 miles to the bridge where it was stocked with 2 truckloads the previous Saturday. Got to the bridge and to my surprise, NOT, there were 6 guys fishing in the small hole right under the bridge. Roy and I rigged up and walked to the up-stream side and practiced our casting. No sense trying to catch anything, since they other 6 guys weren't, at least as far as I could see.
Packed up and drove back down stream until we found a hole someone wasn't fishing in. Most of these were down in canyons where it would take climbing gear with ropes and repelling stuff (you can tell I don't know much about climbing) just to get there. We actually ended up at one of the spots I fished back on August 31st. Roy, being somewhat new at the fly fishing thing, not that I'm not new, set up in the center of the area, and I walked to the left and fished a hole. Didn't catch anything, but did get some interest by a couple of small (6 inchers or so) fish. Walked around Roy and fished another hole on his down stream side. Nothing there either. Roy practiced casting.
Packed up again and went to an area I saw guys fishing back on the 31st and thought we'd try that one. Roy upstream, me downstream. Fished a right hand drift up against the bank, but didn't produce anything. Did almost step on a foot long Garder Snake and a 6 inch Alligator Lizard. The most live action I'd seen so far.
Decided to call it a day on the East Fork of the Carson River and drove to the Hope Valley Cafe for lunch. A burger and fries later, set out for Red Lake. After all, it was on the way back home. No body there when we arrived, so Roy & I set up a slip sinker with Rainbow Power Bait and I used my second rod with silver Kastmaster. Always good at Red Lake. Got 3 good hits on the Kastmaster, but couldn't get the hook set. During the change of lures, you know I try everything, a 13" Brookie almost pulled my other rod into the lake. Got him to shore and on the stringer for dinner. After that I got one hit on a silver Panther Martin and that was it.
By then it was hitting 2:00pm and I was running out of energy, so we called it a day. On the way back, Caples was calling, but I restrained myself. It was getting pretty windy, actually there were whitecaps on the lake, and it would still be there next week. DFG is stocking Bear River, Caples, and Silver lake next week, I can't wait.
That's it from the newly de-bacteria'd Shoreman. Till next time, remember: "Forget the antibiotics, get out there fishing".
Shoreman
One quick thing about the mystery at Tabeaud. I was mostly yanking your chain about the volcanic gas bubble. Granted the town is called Volcano, but it's generally known that there aren't any volcano's around here. The town is named for its setting in a bowl-shaped valley, which early miners thought was caused by a volcano. I know it's been fun speculating, but it's probably just a simple purging of the pipe used as an outlet for the water flowing into the West Fork of Jackson Creek. Probably, but you never know. Oh, stop it Mark.
Picked up my neighbor Roy and stopped by Cooks Station for coffee. Drove over Carson Pass and down into the Carson Valley. Took a right on Highway 89 South and stopped in at the Carson River Resort and yaked with Todd for a while. He suggested we drive up the road 4 miles to the bridge where it was stocked with 2 truckloads the previous Saturday. Got to the bridge and to my surprise, NOT, there were 6 guys fishing in the small hole right under the bridge. Roy and I rigged up and walked to the up-stream side and practiced our casting. No sense trying to catch anything, since they other 6 guys weren't, at least as far as I could see.
Packed up and drove back down stream until we found a hole someone wasn't fishing in. Most of these were down in canyons where it would take climbing gear with ropes and repelling stuff (you can tell I don't know much about climbing) just to get there. We actually ended up at one of the spots I fished back on August 31st. Roy, being somewhat new at the fly fishing thing, not that I'm not new, set up in the center of the area, and I walked to the left and fished a hole. Didn't catch anything, but did get some interest by a couple of small (6 inchers or so) fish. Walked around Roy and fished another hole on his down stream side. Nothing there either. Roy practiced casting.
Packed up again and went to an area I saw guys fishing back on the 31st and thought we'd try that one. Roy upstream, me downstream. Fished a right hand drift up against the bank, but didn't produce anything. Did almost step on a foot long Garder Snake and a 6 inch Alligator Lizard. The most live action I'd seen so far.
Decided to call it a day on the East Fork of the Carson River and drove to the Hope Valley Cafe for lunch. A burger and fries later, set out for Red Lake. After all, it was on the way back home. No body there when we arrived, so Roy & I set up a slip sinker with Rainbow Power Bait and I used my second rod with silver Kastmaster. Always good at Red Lake. Got 3 good hits on the Kastmaster, but couldn't get the hook set. During the change of lures, you know I try everything, a 13" Brookie almost pulled my other rod into the lake. Got him to shore and on the stringer for dinner. After that I got one hit on a silver Panther Martin and that was it.
By then it was hitting 2:00pm and I was running out of energy, so we called it a day. On the way back, Caples was calling, but I restrained myself. It was getting pretty windy, actually there were whitecaps on the lake, and it would still be there next week. DFG is stocking Bear River, Caples, and Silver lake next week, I can't wait.
That's it from the newly de-bacteria'd Shoreman. Till next time, remember: "Forget the antibiotics, get out there fishing".
Shoreman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Mystery Update
Well, I've talked to the two who might know about the explosion at Tabeaud and have come up with no answer. One possibility is that there is some kind of purge valve, but I find that unlikely since the intake for the flume is better than 200 yards away and the intake to the lake is a 1/4 mile or more. The other idea is that it's a volcanic gas "burp" (thanks to Detroit Sports & More). After all, I do live in Volcano and Tabeaud is not all that far away.
I saw it, heard it (not an explosion), and didn't have my camera handy to take a picture of it. So, your guess is as good as mine. The mystery remains.
Countdown to Oregon: I was a little eager last Friday when I said 20 days, it was more like 26 days. Today it's 20 or October 8th.
Till next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than any day at work".
Shoreman
I saw it, heard it (not an explosion), and didn't have my camera handy to take a picture of it. So, your guess is as good as mine. The mystery remains.
Countdown to Oregon: I was a little eager last Friday when I said 20 days, it was more like 26 days. Today it's 20 or October 8th.
Till next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than any day at work".
Shoreman
Friday, September 11, 2009
I'm Baaaaaack, Some What
I took a little drive over to Lake Tabeaud (pronounced Taboo) this morning to practice fly casting. This would be day 3. I went to the inlet and put a black Wooly Bugger on rather than my bright orange test streamer. Just in case. To understand this area of the lake, the local electric company runs water, from somewhere, into the lake via a big tube. At the beginning of this area, there are a lot of trees and the water is extremely fast. I walked down a ways and picked a spot where I could cast. I casted and the Bugger flopped on the water. Casted again and it flopped again. See what happens when you take time off. Finally got back in the swing and got several good casts. Nothing happened, so I changed location downstream a bit. Several casts later, changed to Clouser Minnow. This is where it gets interesting.
I was casting and across the lake, there was a huge, and I mean huge explosion of water. That's the only way I can describe it. I estimated it to be 3 to 4 feet in diameter and 6 to 7 feet high. My first thought was "What ever that is, I hope it's not coming this way". This was right out of the SciFi Channel. Then I heard a vehicle drive away. OK, maybe the DFG planted. So I jumped into my truck and drove around to that area. When I got to one area that I could see the lake, there was still "boiling" in the spot where I figure it happened. I thought, wow, this is going to be fun. Got to the picnic area, parked, and walked down to the lake. Keep in mind, except for the vehicle I heard drive away, I'm the only person there.
I took a good look at where I thought it happened and it would have been around 100 yards off shore. I don't think the DFG would blast out the plant that far. I fished a while with no results and went back to get my spinning gear so I could cast out farther. Still nothing. A plant would have produced something. This was starting to get creepy.
OK, lets go way out on a limb here. There was another vehicle in the area (I heard it and it left right after). There was a huge explosion of water about 100 yards off shore. There's a lot of ducks and geese in the area. Somebody doesn't like ducks & geese? Could somebody have lobbed a big firecracker (really big) or a stick of dynamite out into the lake? There were no dead & floating ducks, geese, or fish. I thought maybe a big Brown (there are supposed to be some big ones in this lake) took a shot at a duck. Not that big of a water explosion. Remember, 3 to 4 wide and 6 to 7 feet high.
Well, the mystery continues. I do have some friends that have more knowledge of this lake and I intend to ask if they might know what happened. I'll let you know if I find anything out.
Fly casting turns Twilight Zone. I'd give you the music, but can't carry a tune in a bucket. Calm turns creepy. At least I didn't see big waves coming in my direction across the lake. I've got to stop watching those movies on the SfiFi Channel.
Till I can get back out, or find an answer to the creepy explosion question, remember: "A bad day fishing could be caused by a huge explosion in the lake or maybe not." Hell, I was only practicing anyway.
Countdown to Oregon - 20 days.
Shoreman
I was casting and across the lake, there was a huge, and I mean huge explosion of water. That's the only way I can describe it. I estimated it to be 3 to 4 feet in diameter and 6 to 7 feet high. My first thought was "What ever that is, I hope it's not coming this way". This was right out of the SciFi Channel. Then I heard a vehicle drive away. OK, maybe the DFG planted. So I jumped into my truck and drove around to that area. When I got to one area that I could see the lake, there was still "boiling" in the spot where I figure it happened. I thought, wow, this is going to be fun. Got to the picnic area, parked, and walked down to the lake. Keep in mind, except for the vehicle I heard drive away, I'm the only person there.
I took a good look at where I thought it happened and it would have been around 100 yards off shore. I don't think the DFG would blast out the plant that far. I fished a while with no results and went back to get my spinning gear so I could cast out farther. Still nothing. A plant would have produced something. This was starting to get creepy.
OK, lets go way out on a limb here. There was another vehicle in the area (I heard it and it left right after). There was a huge explosion of water about 100 yards off shore. There's a lot of ducks and geese in the area. Somebody doesn't like ducks & geese? Could somebody have lobbed a big firecracker (really big) or a stick of dynamite out into the lake? There were no dead & floating ducks, geese, or fish. I thought maybe a big Brown (there are supposed to be some big ones in this lake) took a shot at a duck. Not that big of a water explosion. Remember, 3 to 4 wide and 6 to 7 feet high.
Well, the mystery continues. I do have some friends that have more knowledge of this lake and I intend to ask if they might know what happened. I'll let you know if I find anything out.
Fly casting turns Twilight Zone. I'd give you the music, but can't carry a tune in a bucket. Calm turns creepy. At least I didn't see big waves coming in my direction across the lake. I've got to stop watching those movies on the SfiFi Channel.
Till I can get back out, or find an answer to the creepy explosion question, remember: "A bad day fishing could be caused by a huge explosion in the lake or maybe not." Hell, I was only practicing anyway.
Countdown to Oregon - 20 days.
Shoreman
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Still can't Fish
While I'm sitting here bored out of my gourd, with my brand new fly rod, reel, waders, boots, and assorted accessories sitting on the desk gathering dust, I thought I'd share a couple of wildlife shots I took this morning while I was watering the garden. Now keep in mind that I'm not as good with a camera as a lot of you are, but I try.
This little frog, sitting in a Zucchini Flower. Such a little frog, such a big voice.
Praying Mantis on the Zucchini leaves.
I mean, it could have been Mountain Lions (I do have a picture of one in my front yard), Turkeys (the old male showing his stuff), Bobcat (he's walking down the driveway), or the 6-point buck in the front yard, but I'm sure you've all seen those types of pictures before. Thought I'd throw something out there that was a little different.
Till next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than no fishing at all". I'm still sitting at home.
Shoreman
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Ken & Dan
I was supposed to go today with my son Ken and his friend Dan from LA. I made it to the rendezvous point, but because of mass medication for a stomach ailment, I had to turn around and go home.
Ken & Dan went ahead to Caples and Ken was able to add one rainbow to the stringer, but that was it. They packed up and went to Red Lake, where Dan caught one Brookie on a "silver something" a direct quote from my Son, and Ken was able to land two Brookies using Rainbow Power Bait. One was about 15".
All in all not a bad day. I feel bad, I wasn't able to accompany them.
There's a possibility this stomach thing may keep me grounded for as long as two weeks. If I can manage to sneak out, I will. If not, maybe I'll do a couple of posts by just rambling on and on. I'm sure I can find something to write about.
Till next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than not fishing at all".
Shoreman
Ken & Dan went ahead to Caples and Ken was able to add one rainbow to the stringer, but that was it. They packed up and went to Red Lake, where Dan caught one Brookie on a "silver something" a direct quote from my Son, and Ken was able to land two Brookies using Rainbow Power Bait. One was about 15".
All in all not a bad day. I feel bad, I wasn't able to accompany them.
There's a possibility this stomach thing may keep me grounded for as long as two weeks. If I can manage to sneak out, I will. If not, maybe I'll do a couple of posts by just rambling on and on. I'm sure I can find something to write about.
Till next time, remember: "A bad day fishing is better than not fishing at all".
Shoreman
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